Police and prosecutors raided the 'El Balcón de la Luna' nursing home in the Yvyraró area of Capiatá on Tuesday, leading to the arrest of Sara Andrea Irala Zárate, who identified herself as the facility's administrator and owner. The operation was carried out by the National Police's Organized Crime Department and the Public Ministry, according to El Nacional.
The investigation began after officials at the National Development Bank (BNF) flagged suspicious activity when Irala Zárate attempted to obtain a transaction PIN to withdraw G. 50 million from the account of a 72-year-old man who had died days earlier while hospitalized at Calle'i Hospital in San Lorenzo.
Prosecutor Gerardo Chamorro stated that the suspect had the elderly man's debit card in her possession and claimed to bank officials that the funds were used for his care and medical expenses. However, the Fiscalía determined through family statements that all costs related to the resident were paid directly by his relatives.
Investigators also found that at least ten withdrawals of G. 1.5 million each had already been made, totaling approximately G. 15 million in initial losses. Forensic experts are analyzing bank records and other evidence seized during the raid to identify potential additional victims within the home.
Relatives of the deceased told prosecutors they faced constant obstacles when trying to visit him at the facility, with management imposing excuses and restrictions that limited contact. After his death, family members were unaware of the body's whereabouts and eventually located it at a funeral home in Villeta contracted by the administrator.
During the raid, authorities noted that the nursing home lacked files, medical histories, or official records of the elderly man's stay, despite his residence there since late 2023. The case remains open, and prosecutors have not ruled out expanding the investigation to cover similar incidents involving other residents.